Pakistani foreign minister thanks Clinton for ripping anti-Islam movie

By Julian Pecquet - 09/21/12 05:48 PM ET

Pakistan's foreign minister on Friday thanked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for criticizing a U.S.-made anti-Islam film and said her words would go a long way toward calming tensions in the Muslim world.

The United States is spending $70,000 in TV ads in Pakistan featuring President Obama and Clinton distancing the U.S. government from the 14-minute trailer that sparked protests in 20 countries. At least 17 protesters were killed in Pakistan on Friday after the government called a national holiday so people could demonstrate against the film.

“Allow me to begin from where you began, Madam Secretary, and to say that we appreciate the very strong condemnation ... of this blasphemous video, which has certainly stroked the sensitivities of the Muslims in the wrong way,” Hina Rabbani Khar, who is on her first visit to the United States, said while standing alongside Clinton at the State Department.

“Your condemnation has given a strong message that the United States government not only condemns it but has absolutely no support to such blasphemous videos or content anywhere. I think that is an important message, and that message should go a long way in ending the violence on many streets in the world.”

Khar failed to mention protesters using the video to foment violence, however, even though Clinton had opened the door for her to do so just moments earlier.

“We found the video that’s at the core of this series of events offensive, disgusting, reprehensible,” Clinton said. “But that does not provide justification for violence, and therefore it is important for responsible leaders, indeed responsible people everywhere, to stand up and speak out against violence and particularly against those who would exploit this difficult moment to advance their own extremist ideologies.”